Consecutive serial numbering device



Dec. 29, 1959 R. J. YOUNG 2,919,003

CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

RICHARD J. YOUNG BY -.II (0% 2 28 ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1959 R. J. YOUNG2,919,003

CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 2 58-1OOT Filed Nov.25, 1955 UNLATCH 56 HVVENTUR.

3 RICHAR J. YOUNG %M%MM,

ATTORNEY United States Patent CONSECUTIVE SERIAL NUMBERING DEVICERichard J. Young, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignor to International BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N.Y,, a corporation of New YorkApplication November 25, 1955, Serial No. 548,890

Claims. (Cl. 19719) This invention relates to an improved consecutiveserial numbering device operable alone or in combination with a printingmechanism.

9' In many typewriter applications, for example, in making but payrollchecks wherein the checks have to be numbered consecutively, it issomewhat of a burden to the typist to insure accurate numbering, and theadvantages of an automatic consecutive serial numbering device hecomeobvious.

Therefore, it is a first object ofthis invention to provide an improvedconsecutive serial numbering device.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an automaticconsecutive serial numbering device which is operable in combinationwith a printing mechanism to print numerals in series.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedautomatic consecutive serial numbering device which will provide pulsesfor controlling the operation of a printing mechanism.

it is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedpattern control electrical pulse device which is operable in combinationwith a printing mechanism to print items in accordance with thepredetermined pattern.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a solenoid controlled type bar drivemechanism in its rest position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a solenoid controlled type bar drivemechanism in its active position and,

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the improved consecutive serialnumbering device.

Briefly, this invention relates to a combined mechanism and controlcircuitry for selectively and automatically driving typewriter printingmeans into printing position.

In the illustrated embodiment, a six decimal order mechanism is providedwhich, when selectively operated, will cause typewriter type bars toprint seriatim from 0000001 through 999999.

In accomplishing this objective, a cam lever of conventionalconstruction 2, is provided for each type bar of a typewriter. Each camlever is pivotally supported on a fulcrum wire 4 and carries a cam 6which may be moved into engagement with the power roll 8 to drive thecam lever 2 counterclockwise from its rest (Fig. 1) position to itsactive (Fig. 2),position thereby driving a type bar 9'into printingposition. The cam 6 can be moved into engagement with the power roll toinitiate a type bar print stroke, either by depression of the key lever10 acting through a trip latch 12 (as shown in U.S. Patent 2,723,740),or through the energization of a magnet unit 14, which operates via alink 16 to push on the tail of ice cam 6-. One magnet unit 14 with link16 is provided for each of the numeric type bars.

The tail of the cam lever 2, in moving to printing position, rocks aribbon lift vane 18 (common to all cam levers) which is pivotallymounted on a fulcrum wire 20. The ribbon lift vane is equipped with atail 22, which actuates a set of contacts generally designated as 24.Actually, there is a center movable contact element 26, which at restposition, engages one contact 28 (normally closed) as shown in Fig. l,and in its active position as shown in Fig. 2, engages the contact 30(normally open). It will be understood that each time a type bar isdriven into printing position, the ribbon vane 18 will be rocked aboutits pivot 20 to move the movable contact 26 from its normally closedside to is normally open side. As will be later explained, thetransferring of movable contact 26 acts to trigger circuitry for sendingpulses through each of six devices representing six decimal orders,every time the consecutive serial numbering device is operated.

With reference to the wiring diagram of Fig. 3, the consecutive serialnumbering mechanism comprises a plurality of stepping or distributingswitches such as the emitter switch 32 and interconnecting circuitry.Each of the stepping switches is provided with a plurality of radialcontacts and a center sweep arm operable under control of an advancemagnet. The center sweep arm is stepped one radial contact position eachtime its ad- Vance magnet is pulsed.

With specific reference to emitter switch 32-but applicable to all thestepping switcheseach time the emitter advance magnet 34 of emitterswitch 32 is energized, the center sweep arm 33 will move to the nextradial contact. The center sweep arm 33 in turn, is provided with abrush 36, and accordingly, a pulse available at the brush 36 may bedistributed to the radial contacts seriatim as the emitter advancemagnet 34 is pulsed. Since the theory of operation is based upon thefact of sending a pulse through each of six decimal orders for eachoperation of the consecutive serial number device, six of the radialcontacts of emitter switch 32 are connected to a bank of six stepping ordistributing switches 38-one for each decimal orderas follows:

Decimal order: Distributing switch Each distributing switch 38 has acenter brush 40, a sweep arm 42 and ten stepped radial contacts. Eachradial contact is connected to one of the magnet units 14 of the numerictype bars. That is, the Zero radial contact of each of the distributingswitches 38 is connected in parallel to the magnet unit 14 for the zerotype bar; the 1 radial contact of each of the distributing switches 38is connected in parallel to the magnet unit 14 for the numeral one typebar, etc.

The brush 40 of each of the distributing switches 38 is connected to oneof the radial contacts of the emitter switch 32 in the following order:

With this arrangement, a pulse through the 32-1 radial contact ofemitterswitch 32 will go through a conductor to the brush 40-100T,through the sweep arm 42-100T, through one of its radial contact pointsto its associated magnet unit 14. Then when arm 33 of emitter switch 32advances to the second radial contact 32-2, a pulse is available tobrush 40-101, through its sweep arm 42- T, through the engaged radialcontact to the associated magnet unit 14. This operation is continuedthrough the six orders represented by the six distributing switches 38.

For each operation of the consecutive serial numbering device, it isnecessary to step the emitter switch 32 .(by successively energizing itsadvance magnet 34) through a complete cycle; that is, from a restposition through all the radial contacts 32-1 through 32-6 so as to senda pulse through each of the stepping switches 38 and back to restposition. T o accomplish this (with reference to wiring diagram of Fig.3), a pulse is available from line 44 to a start key 46, which in turn,has a normally open contact 48, and a normally closed contact 50 so thatdepression of the start key directs a pulse from line 44 throughnormally open (now closed) contact 48 through a normally closed contactpoint 54-1 to energize relay 52. A parallel circuit is provided throughrectifier 53 to emitter advance magnet 34. Relay 52 has a normally opencontact point 52-1 in series with a relay 54, which is a latch typerelay, that will stay latched when energized until it is unlatched byenergizing an unlatch magnet 56. Accordingly, when relay 52 is pickedup, a pulse is available through contact 52-1 normally open (now closed)to pick up relay 54 and hold it latched. Relay 54 has a normally closedcontact point 54-1 in series with relay 52 and with the parallel circuitthrough rectifier 53 to emitter advance magnet 34; therefore while relay54 is latched, relay 52 cannot be energized again by again depressingthe start key '46; nor can emitter advance magnet 34 be pulsed throughrectifier 53. Relay 54 further has a normally open con-.

tact point 54-2 in series with brush 36 of stepping relay 32; 54-3 inseries with emitter advance magnet 34; and normally closed contactpoints 54-4 in series with a conductor 51.

When a type bar is in rest position-and assuming switch 46 has returnedto its normal position after being actuated to energize the relay 54, apulse is available from line 44, through normally closed contact 50,through line 49, through normally closed ribbon vane contact 28,

through normally open-now closedcontact 54-2,

through brush 36 of emitter switch 32, through movable contact arm 33 toa radial contact. When a type bar moves to print position, this circuitis broken by the opening of contact 28, and a circuit is establishedfrom line 44, through normally open, now closed, contacts 30 and contact54-3 to emitter advance magnet 34 thereby energizing magnet 34 toadvance sweep arm- 33 to the next radial contact of emitter steppingswitch 32. With this circuitry, it is apparent that the emitter steppingswitch 32 will be stepped in sequence through all its radial contactpoints, up to radial contact point number 6, each time the emitteradvance magnet 34 is pulsed as a result of a type bar print stroke. Itis also apparent that since the radial contact points of the emitterstepping switch 32 are connected respectively to the diiferent orderscovered by the stepping switches 38, that a pulse will be availablethrough the bank of distributing switches 38, seriatim, from 100,000order 38-100T down to units order 38-1.

The emitter stepping switch 32 is shown as having eight radial contactpositions, but it could have any number more than the number ofdistributing switches in bank of switches 38. For example, it could haveten positions as have the other stepping switches 38. For all radialcontact positions not directly connected to the distributing steppingswitches 38, a pulse is available from that respective contact pointdirectly to the emit- Y ter advance magnet 34 to step the emitter onefurther step. .Whenthecontact arm 33 of emitter stepping-relay 32 is onthe number 8 contact point as shown in Fig. 3 (while type bar is in restposition), then a pulse is available through contact 28 normally closed,contact 54-2 normally open now closed, through brush 36, contact arm 33,radial contact 32-8 to unlatching relay 56, thereby dropping out magnet54 to interrupt the consecutive serial numbering circuit. The movablecontact arm 33 will rest on the number 8 radial contact point until anew cycle is initiated. In one cycle then, contact arm 33 moves fromcontact 32-8 through all other radial contacts of emitter switch 32 insequence back to contact 32-8. Incidentally, it is apparent that thepulse through radial contact 32-7 could be sent to a magnet 35 viaswitch 37 which could control the carriage return operation or someother function of the typewriter, thereby returning the carriage to astarting position after the consecutive serial numbering device has gonethrough a cycle.

With reference to the bank of stepping switches'38, each one is equippedwith a nines carry stepping switch '58 and its individual advance magnet60. Each of the stepping switches 38 and 58 of the same order has itsmovable contact arm 42, 62 respectively in alignment on the same shaftindicated by the dotted lines 64. That'is, the advance magnet 60-1 stepsshaft 64-1 and hence contact arms 42, 62 of switches 38-1 and 58-1 oneradial contact position at a time.

A circuit in parallel with advance magnet 60-1 is provided to brush 66of nines carry switch 58-1. Then, when the units order shaft 64-1 hasbeen advanced to bring contact arm 62 of switch 58-1 into engagementwith radial contact 9 of stepping switch 58-1, the next pulse to advancemagnet 60-1 also provides a pulse through brush 66 and contact 9 ofswitch 58-1 to energize advance magnet 60- 10 thereby moving contactarms 42 and 62 of switches 33- 10 and 58-10 to theirl radial contactpositions, respectively, while the arms 42 and 62 of the switches 38-1and 58-1 move to their 0 radial positions. Therefore, the magnets 60-10,60-100 etc., that control the advance of the stepping switches 38, 58 inother than the units orders, are pulsed only each time the 9 radialpoints of all previous orders have been reached and a next pulse isreceived. To reiterate, when a pulse is available to advance magnet 60-1which in turn causes one step of both the stepping switches 38-1 andnines carry switch 58-1, the nines carry switch 58-1 must have beenadvanced nine positions before a pulse is available to the tens orderadvance magnet 60-10, and nines carry switch 58-10'must be advanced from0 through 9 before a pulse is available to the hundreds carry magnet60-100 etc. a

In operating the consecutive serial numbering deviceassuming allswitches are in their zero radial contact posi tions, the start key 46is depressed so that a pulse is available from the line 44 through thenormally open contact 48 to energize relay 52 and emitter advance magnet34. The latter advances the stepping relay 32 from the number 8 to thenumber 1 radial contact point. The relay 52 closes contact 52-1 therebyenergizing and latching relay 54. Prior to relays 52 and 54 picking up,the pulse through the normally open contact 48 (now closed) passesthrough line 51 and through normally closed contact point 54-4 both tothe units advance magnet 60-1, pulsing that relay to advance it one unitand to brush 66-1, and contact arm 62-1 of the nines carry switch 58-1.Stepping switch 38-1 is advanced to its 1 radial contact point, due toenergizing 60-1, and switch 58-1 is advanced to its 1 contact point. Thepulse to the switch 58-1 is superfluous since the arm 62 of switch 58-1is connected withthe dead number 1 radial contact. Then when the key 46is released and a pulse is available through the normally closed contact50, through line 49 to the normally closed ribbon vane operating contact28 and through the contact 54-2 (now closed) to the brush 36 of emitterstepping switch 32 which is now on radial contact number 1, Thepulsefrom'cont'act 32-1 goes to the brush 40 and contact type bar.

42 of order distributing switch 38-100T which will be on the position,then to the magnet unit 14, for the Zero This type bar will move toprinting position and in doing so will open the contacts 28 controlledby'the ribbon lift vane and close contact 30, whereupon a pulse isavailable from line 44 through contact 30, through a contact 54-3 nowclosed to the emitter advance magnet 34, stepping the emitter steppingswitch 32 to the number 2 radial contact position. The type bar willdrop back to its rest position, and in doing so will close the Contact28, whereupon a pulse is again available through the emitter steppingswitch 32, this time through contact 32-2 to the order switch 38-10Twhich is at zero position and accordingly energizes the magnet unit 14to the zero type bar again. This is repeated down to the units orderswitch 38-1 which is on the 1 radial contact point and the pulse to thatone will energize the magnet unit 14 for the numeral 1 type bar andaccordingly, numeral 1 will be printed. As that type bar restores to itsrest position, the pulse through the vane contact 28 and through contact54-2 will be available through radial contact point 32-7 of the emitterstepping switch 32 which will pulse the emitter advance magnet 34,moving it to the contact 328 position, but the contact 28 will not bebroken, since there was not type bar print stroke. A pulse will then beavailable through the number 8 radial contact point of the emitterstepping switch 32 which will pulse the unlatch magnet 56 to open thelatch relay 54 thereby breaking the circuit to the consecutive serialnumbering device until switch 46 is again operated.

While there have beenshown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore, to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typewriter having a plurality of type bars with individuallycontrolled power means for driving the same into printing position andsolenoid means acting when energized to initiate a type bar printstroke, a device for energizing said solenoid means in accordance with apredetermined pattern comprising a plurality of multicontact orderdistributing switches assigned one to each pattern order, each of saidswitches having a sweep contact arm, circuit means interconnectingcommon contacts of each of said order switches to said solenoids,emitter 1 switch means for sending a pulse through each order of saidorder switches seriatim for energizing said solenoids in accordance withthe respective settings of said order distributing switches, and meanscontrolling the operation of said distributing switches to channelpulses to said solenoids selectively, said controlling means comprisinga carry switch associated with each of said distributing switches andhaving a 9 contact, a sweep contact arm associated with each of saidcarry switches and movable synchronously with the sweep contact arm ofthe distributing switch associated therewith, an advancing solenoidassociated with each of said distributing switches and the correspondingcarry switch for advancing said switches when said associated advancingsolenoid is energized, and means for energizing the units orderadvancing solenoid and for energizing successive order advancingsolenoids when said sweep contact arms of all lower order carry switchesstand on 9.

2. In a typewriter having a plurality of type bars with individuallycontrolled power means for driving said type bars into printing positionand solenoid means for triggering said power means, a consecutive serialnumbering device for energizing said solenoid means seriatim comprisinga plurality of multi-contact order distributing switches assigned one toeach decimal order, a sweep contact arm for each of said decimal orderdistributing switches, means stepping said sweep contact arms of saiddecimal order distributing switches in numeric succession, said steppingmeans comprising a carry switch associated with each of saiddistributing switches and having a 9 contact, a sweep contact armassociated with each of said carry switches and movable synchronouslywith the sweep contact arm of the correspondingdistributing switch, anadvancing solenoid associated with each of said order distributingswitches and the corresponding carry switch for advancing said switcheswhen said associated advancing solenoid is energized, and means forenergizing a units order advancing solenoid and for energizingsuccessive order advancing solenoids when said sweep contact arms of alllower order carry switches stand on 9, said last mentioned meanscomprising circuit means connecting the 9 contact of each carry switchin branch circuits to the advancing solenoid and the contact arm for thenext higher order carry switch. g

3. In a typewriter having a plurality of numeric type bars withindividually controlled power means for driving I said type bars intoprinting position and solenoid means for operating said power means toinitiate a numeric type bar print stroke, a consecutive serial numberingdevice for energizing said solenoid means seriatim comprising aplurality of order distributing switches assigned one to each decimalorder, a contact on each of said decimal order distributing switchesrepresenting the 0 through 9 units, a sweep contact arm engageable withsaid 0 through 9 contacts one at a time, conductor means interconnectingcommon contacts on each of said decimal order distributing switches withsaid solenoids, emitter switching means for energizing said sweepcontact arm of each of said decimal order distributing switches one at atime thereby energizing a solenoid to initiate a type bar print stroke,and means for advancing said decimal order distributing switchesseriatim, said advancing means comprising a carry switch associated witheach of said distributing switches and having a 9 contact, a sweepcontact arm associated with each of said carry switches and movablesynchronously with the corresponding first sweep contact arm, anadvancing solenoid associated with each of said distributing switchesand the corresponding carry switch for advancing said switches when saidassociated advancing solenoid is energized, and means for energizing aunits order advancing solenoid and for energizing successive orderadvancing solenoids when said sweep contact arms of all lower ordercarry switches stand on 9.

4. A consecutive numbering device comprising in combination a pluralityof type bars, a solenoid associated with each of said type bars,solenoid actuated means for driving said type bars into printingposition, a plurality of multi-contact distributing switches assignedone to each decimal order, conductor means connecting common contacts ofeach of said decimal order distributing switches to said type barsolenoids respectively, a sweep arm for each of said distributingswitches, means for advancing said sweep arms of said decimal orderdistributing switches in numeric series, an emitter switch havingindividual contacts electrically connected respectively to said decimalorder distributing switches whereby pulses may be sent through thelatter to energize said solenoids consecutively, and means responsive tothe resultant type bar print stroke for advancing said emitter switchfor contact with the next decimal order distribuitng switch, said meansfor advancing said sweep arms comprising a carry switch associated witheach of said distributing switches and having a 9 contact, a sweepcontact arm associated with each of said carry switches and movablesynchronously with the sweep contact arm of the correspondingdistributing switch, an advancing solenoid associated with each of saiddistributing switches and the corresponding carry switch for advancingsaid switches when said associated advancing solenoid is energized, andmeans for energizing said advancing solenoid in units order position,and for energizing successive order advancing solenoids when said sweepcontact arms of all lower order .carry switches stand on 9.

determined pattern comprising a plurality of multi-contact patterndistributing switchesone for each order of said predetermined pattern,conductor means interconnecting common contacts of said pattern switcheswith said electrical means, and multi-contact emitter means for sendingseriatim a pulse through each order of said pattern switches to-energizeselectively said electrical means comprising an advance relay actingwhen energized to advance the emitter means one contact position,conductor means interconnecting said emitter contacts with one order ofsaid pattern switches respectively, and means responsive to a type barreaching print position for energizing said advancing relay.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,262,235 Hofgaard Nov. 11, 1941 2,493,709 Wittenmyer Jan. 3, 19502,687,199 Goodale Aug. 24, 1954

